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Stern
may soon approve Charlotte Hornets move
NEW
YORK (AP) — As much as it pains him, NBA commissioner David
Stern is close to giving his approval for the Charlotte Hornets
to move to New Orleans.
Stern
announced Tuesday that the Hornets have not yet met all the benchmarks
set by the league, but team owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge
have been given more time to complete the process.
Stern
said work remains to be done in New Orleans before an ownership
relocation committee will recommend that the move be approved.
“They’re
not quite there yet, but when they get there — and I’m
hoping it’s a when — I believe we’re in a position
where the committee will in fact recommend it,” Stern said.
“If the benchmarks are met, I would be inclined to forcefully
urge the ownership to allow the team to move to New Orleans. Absolutely.”
Deputy
commissioner Russ Granik said the league would like the issue to
be settled by the end of the month, and Wooldridge said he was confident
the team would be able to fulfill the league's requirements by then.
Once
the seven-man relocation committee issues its recommendation, a
minimum of seven days must pass before the 29 teams can vote on
the move.
If
approved, it would be the NBA’s second franchise relocation
in as many years after the league had gone 16 seasons without one.
Last year, the Vancouver Grizzlies moved to Memphis.
The
Hornets led the league in attendance a decade ago, but the relationship
between the fans, the owners and the local politicians has soured
to such a degree that the team is now last in the league in attendance.
Graham
signs contract with Houston Texans
HOUSTON
(AP) — Ten-year veteran Kent Graham signed a contract with
the Houston Texans Monday, giving the expansion team an experienced
quarterback to join rookie David Carr.
The
Texans have announced they intend to make Carr the first pick in
the April 20-21 NFL draft.
Graham
has played in 83 career games with 38 starts with the New York Giants,
Arizona, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Washington.
Graham
played in three games for the Redskins last season in relief of
Tony Banks. In 2000, he played in 14 games with Pittsburgh including
five games as a starter.
Graham
was an eighth round draft pick of the Giants in 1992 and started
three games as a rookie.
The
Texans also announced the signing of cornerback Jason Simmons, who
played with the Pittsburgh Steelers the past five seasons.
Griffey
Jr. hopes to avoid knee surgery
CINCINNATI
(AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. is off to a good start rehabilitating
his knee, and the Cincinnati Reds hope he can avoid surgery that
might end his season.
Dr.
Timothy Kremchek, the team physician, is to re-examine Griffey on
Wednesday and consult again with Dr. James Andrews, a Reds consultant.
Andrews is to examine an MRI scan of Griffeys right knee.
Kremchek
and Andrews hope an operation wont be necessary.
“I’m
not going to say he won’t need it,” Kremchek said. “But
this is the plan right now.”
Griffey
began twice-daily physical therapy sessions Monday. He felt better
and reported increased range of motion in the knee, Kremchek said.
Griffey
partially tore the patella tendon and partially dislocated his right
kneecap during a rundown in Sunday’s game against Montreal.
The All-Star center fielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list
and stayed behind in Cincinnati as the Reds began a road trip in
Pittsburgh.
He
was declining requests for interviews, Reds spokesman Rob Butcher
said Tuesday.
The
Reds hope Griffey can return in 3-to-6 weeks with rest and rehab.
If not, the option is surgery. That could sideline him for the rest
of the season.
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